Wedson Nyirenda urges players to prepare for CHAN 2018

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Wednesday Dec 06, 2017. 14:00

Zambian national team players will not have an off-season, as coach Wedson Nyirenda wants to prepare for the 2018 CAF African Nations Championships.

The tournament for local-based players will be staged in Morocco and Nyirenda says there will be no off-season rest for players.

Nyirenda said all players should remain in top form, even after the Zambian football season has close, because modern-day football requires players to train even once a week during off-season.

PIRATES COACH PRAISES SUPERSPORT AFTER GOALLESS STALEMATE

"Only an amateur player will switch off completely during the off-season. For national team players, the war has just begun,” Nyirenda said to the Times of Zambia.

“We shall just give them a week's rest and on Sunday, work starts as we regroup for CHAN.

"The CHAN won't be easy because of where Zambia has put itself in Africa, people are talking highly of us and we should not slumber because everyone will want to come at us.”

Chipolopolo have been to the CHAN tournament twice in its four editions, making it to the semifinals and finishing third in the inaugural tournament in 2009 under Hervé Renard.

The 2012 African champions are in Group B with Namibia, Uganda and Cote d'Ivoire and will first meet the Cranes on January 18. CLICK HERE TO VISIT AFRICAN FOOTBALL ZAMBIA